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Labonie Roy, a talented artist, has been collaborating with Mongabay India to create engaging editorial illustrations that bring stories to life. In this interview, Labonie emphasizes the importance of representing people, animals, and ecosystems with respect and accuracy in her illustrations. She believes that as an artist, she has a responsibility to shape how people perceive and engage with the subjects she illustrations.
Labonie’s creative process involves extensive research, including field visits, reference photography, and a mix of academic and real-world sources to create authentic illustrations. She tailors her illustrations to align with the story’s tone and intent, using word clouds, sketches, and mixed media to achieve this goal. Her artistic approach is grounded in her academic background in sociology and anthropology, which has given her strong research skills.
For Labonie, research is the foundation of her creative process. She dedicates countless hours to reading, watching, and listening to information, and she also visits locations and engages with people to gain a deeper understanding of her subject. Her approach is characterized by a mix of academic journals, social media posts, and real-world observations.
Labonie’s research process is also marked by her attention to detail. She believes that capturing the correct plants, birds, soil colors, and subtle elements like time of day or a flower’s blooming season can transform a background into a more authentic and impactful piece.
In terms of what goes into the making of an illustration, Labonie’s process begins with an in-depth conversation with the editor, where she delves into the scope of the work and uncovers the essence of the article, its intended audience, and the engagement strategy. She then uses this information to create an illustration that is tailored to the tone and intent of the piece.
In the end, Labonie sees creating editorial work as a fun challenge that allows her to use her skills and creative media to achieve a specific message. She believes that this approach is not restrictive, but rather an opportunity to be creative within certain boundaries.